The Principality Stadium has started its transformation into a field hospital for coronavirus patients in Wales.
In March, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board revealed that the pitch famous for hosting international Welsh rugby matches would be covered. The stadium has been named the Dragon’s Heart Hospital.
It is expected to start taking patients from next week and will have beds for 2,000 patients.
There have been over 60,000 reported cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the United Kingdom and over 7,000 deaths. The country is in its third week of lockdown measures aimed at slowing the spread of the virus.
Len Richards, Chief Executive of Cardiff and Vale UHB said:
“Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has been planning and making preparations based upon the modelling and predictions of numbers of patients and admissions across a range of different scenarios, including best to reasonable case scenarios.
“The assumptions have been well documented following publication by Imperial College, London last week and as a Health Board we felt it incumbent to ensure that we plan and prepare for all scenarios.
“It is difficult looking at the numbers to appreciate the size and the scale of the task ahead of us in the NHS. However we have been using the past few weeks’ wisely in order to put structures and processes in place across our main hospital sites, University Hospital Wales and University Hospital Llandough. In addition to this we have secured the Principality Stadium, Cardiff as a temporary field hospital with the capacity to hold up to an additional 2,000 beds.”
He continued: “I understand the concern that this will cause, not only in the community but among my staff too. However we are planning on the basis of what we think we might need to ensure we are as ready as we can be. I sincerely hope we don’t need to use all of the capacity but it is far better to have developed plans based upon the scientific evidence and modelling of the experts.
“The staffing levels and type of patients received at the hospital is part of our planning and is constantly being refined in line with the trajectory of the Coronavirus. The facility will allow us to free up capacity at our other hospital sites so that we can continue to provide services to patients with other health conditions.
“Clinicians and managers are currently working with the Principality Stadium team and a range of specialist contractors to create the new facility at pace. The work has already started with teams assigned to adapt the home of Welsh rugby to a temporary hospital – a significant task in scale and the timing of the virus.”
He concluded by stating: “I would like to thank everyone for their continued support of the NHS staff through an unprecedented and challenging time in health. Also across our society and communities: Please help us to help you by staying home, washing your hands and heeding the clinical advice to keep you and your families safe.”
Martyn Phillips, CEO of the Welsh Rugby Union, – which owns and operates Principality Stadium added:
“We have made the entire Principality Stadium available to be used based on NHS requirements, including hospitality areas and a variety of further rooms and facilities.
“It is a privilege to be able to offer our services, facilities and a significant number of operational staff, at their individual choice, to help at this time of national emergency and we have made advanced plans to transform relevant spaces into fully functional hospital environments, working closely with Levy UK, who are responsible for overseeing similar transitions elsewhere.”
